JV doubles generating capacity

SSE Generation, a subsidiary of

, and Viking Energy have signed a Memorandum of Understanding which is expected to lead to the establishment of a joint venture aimed at developing a 600MW wind farm on the Shetland Islands.

Viking Energy was formed to represent Shetland Islands Council’s interests in large-scale wind energy development in Shetland. Its involvement would make the 600MW scheme the largest community-backed wind farm development in Europe.

SSE Generation and Viking Energy currently have separate proposals for 300MW wind farms in the central mainland of Shetland. They expect that the proposals will be combined and lead to the creation of a plan for a single 600MW wind farm.

Shetland is the windiest part of the UK which is, in turn, the windiest country in Europe. A wind farm on the Islands could be expected to have a load factor of up to 50%, meaning it would produce electricity at close to its maximum capacity for around half of the time. This would make it the most productive wind farm in Europe.